Criminal Justice On Trial

In this episode, Jeremy speak to Farah Demji, one of the founders of The View magazine - the only magazine on prison reform written by and for women in prison. Farah tells Jeremy about her time serving in a women-only jail, about starting a publication in prison and why it is more important than ever to hear the voices of women trapped in the criminal justice system.

Jeremy Dein QC talks to Tom Robson who spent 20 years as a prison officer and a further 16 years in the Prison Officers Association. He provides fascinating insight on what life Is like on the other side of the cell door...

In this episode Jeremy speaks to Celia Ouellette, Chief Executive at the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice about her work with businesses, trade leaders and economic actors to advance issues in the criminal justice system. Celia discusses her background as a death penalty attorney, the role businesses play in creating a progressive justice process and her recent letter to Justice Secretary, Robert Buckland.

Ahmed was sentenced to just under five years in prison for a drugs offence. He went in as a healthy 25 year old, and he came out nearly completely blind. Hear his story of being completely let down by the prison system - sentenced not just to lose his liberty, but also is sight - and how his prison was woefully unprepared for the coronavirus outbreak.

Jeremy Dein QC is in conversation with Penelope Gibbs, Director of Transform Justice - a national charity working for a fair, humane ,open and effective justice system. She discusses whether closed justice is a price worth paying, as well as other major criminal justice related issues and the effect coronavirus is having on the system as a whole.

Given a four year jail sentence, Andrew Morris only expected to serve two years inside. Over 12 years later he was finally released... Jeremy Dein QC speaks to Andrew about his experience in prison, and finds out why he has now come to work for the criminal justice system that incarcerated him for so long.

Jeremy Dein QC talks to Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, about how our prisons need to change, and how the coronavirus outbreak is affecting prisoners, staff and the system as a whole.

Jeremy speaks to Sir Bob Neill MP, Chairman of the Justice Select Committee in the House of Commons, about the state of the criminal justice system today and what courts and prisons should do differently during the coronavirus outbreak.

19 year old Alan suffers from asthma and has just been released on bail. We speak to him and his aunt Tina about his first experience of prison - being locked in an underground dungeon with visits cut off and struggling to breathe while his mental and physical health were deteriorating.

Jeremy Dein QC talks to Zara, whose brother Ahmed lost most of his eyesight in prison - and he’s still inside. Her family are becoming increasingly concerned about his health during the coronavirus crisis after he receives a letter telling him he's in the high-risk category. Moving and harrowing at times, it details the struggle of one man's first time in prison and his family's anguish in trying to get him the help he needs...